Fear God With a Fear That Keeps You Close

Bible Reading: Psalm 76

Memory verse: Psalm 111:10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and they who live by it grow in understanding..."
 
Fear God.  Some people struggle with that, but knowing His power, I fear.   Fear is what brings us to understand that we need a Savior.

Romans 3:23 tells us that we have fallen short of God's standard with our sin.
Romans 6:23 says that God's price for our sin is death.
Jesus paid that price (Romans 5:8) with His death on the cross and resurrection.
John 3:16 tells us that God loved us enough to send His Son Jesus so that if you CHOOSE to believe and follow Him then your soul will not perish, but have eternal life after the earthly death.   What will you choose?

Those who never choose to follow Him, should fear for their eternal judgement. But knowing His love, I have joined Him, love Him, accepted Jesus as my Savior and will follow Him.   Fear... respect... adore... worship... reverence... honor... glory... fear.  Yes, fear. Not a fear that keeps me away, but a fear that keeps me CLOSE to Him in obedience and trust.   I have begun to appreciate the kindness of God, but also the fact that He is Just and He will rebuke and discipline when we sin.  There comes an earthly consequence to sin even as there is still eternal life for the believer.  We will strive to please Him, and when we fail, we should quickly return to Him in repentance.  Do not give up or lose heart.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

More verses to meditate on today:
Prov 8:13 (NIV) "To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
Prov 19:23 (NEB) "The fear of the Lord is life; he who is full of it will rest untouched by evil."
Prov 16:6 (NEB) ...the fear of the Lord makes men turn from evil.
Job 28:28 (NEB) ..."The fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to turn from evil is understanding."